Should These 12 Wildlife Species Be Added to Canada's At-Risk List?
Official title: Consultation on Amending the List of Species under the Species at Risk Act: Terrestrial Species January 2026
Why This Matters
Ever seen a Snowy Owl in winter? They might need legal protection soon. If you're a landowner, farmer, or outdoor enthusiast, listing decisions can affect what activities are allowed on certain lands. Indigenous communities with traditional connections to these species have a stake too. Even if you just care about Canadian wildlife surviving for future generations, this is your chance to weigh in.
What Could Change
Species added as Endangered or Threatened get automatic legal protection—it becomes illegal to kill, harm, or harass them. Critical habitat must be identified and protected. Recovery strategies become mandatory. For Special Concern species, management plans are required but protections are less strict. These rules can restrict development, resource extraction, and land use in areas where listed species live.
Key Issues
- Should the Snowy Owl be listed as a species at risk?
- Should the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake receive additional protections?
- What level of protection is appropriate for each of the 12 assessed species?
- How would listing affect landowners and land use in species' habitats?
How to Participate
- Read the Minister's Response to Species at Risk Assessments to understand which species are being considered and whether they're on normal or extended consultation timelines.
- Review the consultation document's Part 2 for proposed changes and Part 3 for detailed species summaries.
- Submit your comments by email to sararegistry@ec.gc.ca. Normal consultations close May 14, 2026; extended consultations close October 14, 2026.